Last Russian inmate to be released from Guantanamo

A Russian being held in Guantanamo Bay has had a petition for his release granted by the American Federal Court. When he leaves the prison there will be no more Russian nationals left there.

On Thursday Judge Henry Kennedy Jr. requested that the Obama administration take “all necessary and appropriate diplomatic steps” to release Ravil Mingazov, 42, who is an ethnic Tartar, the Miami Herald newspaper reports.

The administration has until mid-June to respond on the court ruling.

According to the source, the man, a devout Muslim, left Russia in 2000 citing the reason for doing so as a search for “religious freedom”. He was detained back in 2002 in Pakistan during a raid on a suspected terrorist safe house.

According to US special services, Mingazov received special training in one of the terrorists’ camps. Mingazov denies all charges.

It is still unclear where the accused will be sent after the release as it is thought he may still face danger at home.

Seven other Russians, extradited to Russia in 2004, fell victims to harassment and were sent into hiding, the newspaper reports.

According to a ruling by Congress, cleared Guantanamo detainees cannot be allowed to resettle in the United States.